Device for teaching music.



Patented Feh. 4, |902.

c. ef.T|NsLEY.

nl-:vlcE Fon TEAc'H'mG Muslc.

(Application filed Nov. 13, `1900.)

(No Model.)

Gblfoznms sns UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

CONSTANCE R. TINSLEY, OF NEW YORIQVN. Y.

DEVICE FOR TEACHING MUSIC.

SPECIFICATION forming par@ of Letters Patent No. 692,736, dated February 4, 1902. Application led November 13, 1900. lSerial No. 36,381. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom. t may concern;

Be it known that I ,CoNsTANcE B TINsLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have kinvented new and useful Devices for Teaching Music, of which lthe fol-y lowing is a specification.

This invention relates vto improvements in appliances for use in giving instruction in music; and the object of the invention is to provide means whereby the teaching and understanding of correct vtechnique or manner of rendering musical compositions and the elements of harmony can be assisted and facilitated.

With this end in View the invention consists of-a table for use in teaching music having on its surface a representation of a musical staff and a series of marginal divisions formed by the lines extending inward from the edge of the top, in combination with a series of pieces having the form of musical characters which are adjustable on said table-top,

whereby notation and the elements of har-v mony may be correctly taught with facility.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, one of the end sections of the table being folded against the main body. Fig. 3 is anend elevation. Fig. 4 isa perspective view of the table with its parts in folded position. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 illustrates some of the blocks that may be employed with the table.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1L 1b designate the top of the table, which top is preferably made rectangular in form and may be of any desired size. I have found that if the said top is made seventy-two inches long by twentyfour inches wide it will be well adapted for the purpose. Said top is made in three sections, the end sections 1 1b being connected to the intermediate or main section 1 by hinges l2, whereby said end sections can be folded over or against said middle section when the table is not in use. By making each end section one-half the length of the middle section both end sections can be folded against the upper surface of said middle section, and the table-legs are so constructed and arranged that they can be folded against the opposite side or face of the said middle section. Therefore when the table is notin use'it can be folded so as to occupy a space having the same width and lengthas the middle section of the top. On the upper surface of the top are delineated in any suitable manner two musical staffs. These stads, as.shown, do not preferably extend the entire length of the table, but are separated from one end thereof bya space 3. The portions of said upper surface of the table adjacent the longitudinal edges or sides are divided into a series of spaces Il by means of short transversely-extending parallel lines or grooves'. The Spaces'i may be of any suitable width, although I prefer to arrange the lines or grooves 5 about one inch apart.

The table 'is supported on legs, there being preferably two groups or sets, each consistin'g of three legs. These are arranged in such relation to each other and so connected to the table as to be folded compactly against the under side of the top when notin use and when extended form a firm and safe support for said top.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 5, it will be seen that two legs 6 7 of each group are rigidly secured at their upper ends to a crossbar 8, which is hinged to the under side of vthe section 1l of the table-top, near one end thereof, by suitable hinges 9, which permit said legs to be turnedV inwardly against the top 1. -As shown, the cross-barSis preferably made of less thickness than the upper ends of the legs 6 7, and in the recess or space ythus formed is arranged an extensible leg 10. This leg, which maybe of the same form and size as those abovedescrihed,is connected rigidly to a bar 1l, which is hinged to the main crossbar 8 to swing about an axis at right angles to that about which the hinges 9 operate. The hinge 12 for said swinging bar 11 is arranged relatively closer to one of the main legs, and said bar is of such length that when the parts are in their folded position the extensible leg 10 lies close against the other of said main legs. By this construction the bar 11 can be made of such length as to extend for a considerable distance under the end section of the top, which it supports, and thus provide a very firm structure. By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the legs 10 of the table are arranged so as to be ad- IOO jacent to opposite main legs-that is, the leg IO at one end of the table will fold against or adjacent to the main leg 7, while at the other end of the table the extensible leg will lie adjacent to the main leg 6. The legs are of such length that when in use the top is supported at the desired height to allow pupils sitting about the table to easily assume the proper positions for correct piano-playing7 and the marginal spaces 4t are employed to assist in showing the correct positions of the hands and fingers-that is, although said divisions do not necessarily represent the divisions or keys of the keyboard of a piano they enable the instructor to illustrate to the pupil the correct position which the hand and forearm should assume and the manner in which the fingers should touch the keys of a piano, or, as hereinbefore stated, the device is a great aid in teaching technique. As pointed out above, the device is not arranged like or intended to take the place of a keyboard in giving musical instruction. An examination of the drawings will show that all of the spaces of the marginal divisions are of equal width and that the lines separating and forming said spaces are all of the same length. By

having such marginal divisions along both longitudinal edges of the table it will be seen that a single teacher can readily instruct several pupils in technique simultaneously, and by means of the movable blocks or pieces (shown in Figs. 2 and G) lessons in the elements of harmony may be illustrated. These blocks or pieces, which may be made of wood or any other suitable material and of any desired size, are represent-ations of musical characters, a suitable number of each character being provided to serve the desired purpose. In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown some of the blocks arranged upon the staffs represented on the table-top l, and in Fig. 6 have illustrated a few of the other characters in detail perspective. The blocks or pieces are freely movable over the table, and by their use the elements of harmony may be taught and the pupil caused to become perfectly familiar with the rudiments of music.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described means for use in teaching music, comprising a table having on its surface a representation of a musical staff and a series of marginal divisions, formed by lines extending inward from the edge of the top, in combination With a series of pieces, having the form of musical characters, which are adjustable on said table-top.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CONSTANCE R. TINSLEY.

Vitnesses:

HENRY A. RUBINO, JAS. DAvInsoN. 

